Giles Strangways

Giles Strangways was an English landowner and politician who served as Member of Parliament. His father was a prominent Dorset landowner and Member of Parliament. In 1666 he inherited, from his father, an estate with an annual income of around £5,000. He further increased it with his own purchases.

During the Civil War (1642–1651) raised a cavalry regiment for the king, but was taken prisoner with his brother-in-law when Sherborne Castle fell in 1645. He spent two and a half years in prison until his father paid the maximum £10,000 fine to secure his release.

At the time of his death Strangways was worth around £120,000, equivalent to 0.28% of the then £42m net national income. In 2010 that would be £3.1bn.